A part of the OACCT's
Public Policy efforts for 2014 is for volunteers from the Public Policy
committee attend both City and County meetings and report back on items that
are of interest/concern to business.
Study
Session – Waste Water, Storm Water and Fee Resolution
·
Waste Water Expansion
o Currently running
approximately 75% capacity
o One large development
project could push us closer to capacity
o Estimated that within
the next five years it will be a go for the expansion
o No official estimate on
cost of expansion
o How to pay for it…
§ Utilize part of waste
water fund (don’t want to deplete the fund)
§ Bonding
§ Rates
·
Waste Water Fund
o Waste water fund is at
approximately $15M and shrinking
o Meant for special
projects and emergencies
o Looking to at least
maintain current level and would like to grow it knowing expansion may be
coming
o Rate increases (3-10%)
will be evaluated to determine what percentage increase will maintain/grow fund
o Current rate is in the
bottom third of surrounding communities
·
Storm Water
o 2008 was the last base
rate increase
o Current rate is on the
lower end based on rates of surrounding communities
o Rate for businesses
isn’t very straight forward and has many variables
§ Low density vs high
density
§ Acreage
§ Base rate
§ There is a credit system
that isn’t utilized
§ Not a simple calculation
o No major issues within
the system, just a few trouble spots on bigger storms
·
Outcomes
o Public Works will
evaluate waste water rate increase impact to fund and come back to council with
recommendation
o Council and Public Works
will work to identify what the target balance for the waste water fund should
be
o Public Works will
evaluate storm water rate increase and come back to council with a
recommendation
Council
Meeting
o
UV Splash Dash approval delayed until council can hear how the
organizer, Winter State Entertainment, will address concerns (from citizens to
council members) with trash and how the trails are left after the event,
o
Dog Pound (Birthday Bash & End of Summer Bash events were
granted exception to the noise ordinance until Midnight. It was requested
until 1:00 AM, but council is being considerate of residents close to
downtown. In addition, it was noted that this sets a precedence for
future requests and that the Council need to be consistent.
o
Tobacco permit approved for Owatonna Tobacco Inc. on Bridge
Street (new ownership)
o
Mineral Springs Parkway Project
o Residents are concerns
with current design
o Council approved a delay
until 2015 and rebid (5-1)
o Council stated that this
will happen in 2015 regardless
o During the delay, Public
Works will continue to work with residents to come up with the best approach
o
Airport – East Apron Pavement Project
o MNDOT recommended
re-pavement
o There will be an
expansion of the apron as well
o Estimated cost of
$370,000
o Funding will be Federal,
State and local
o Council approved the
project (6-0)
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